View source for Mainau

{{short description|Inland island}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Third-party|date=July 2019}}
{{Expand German|topic=geo||date=July 2019}}

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{{Infobox islands
| name             = Mainau
| image_name       = Aus dem Zeppelin fotografiert, Insel Mainau, Bodensee. 10.jpg
| image_caption    = Mainau, Aerial view
| image_size       = 250px
| map      = Germany
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = Blumeninsel (''flower island'')
| location         = [[Lake Constance]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|47|42|20|N|9|11|40|E|region:DE_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = 
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 0.447584
| length_km        = 1.1
| width_km         = 0.61
| coastline_km     = 3.2
| highest_mount    = Schloßhügel
| elevation_m      = 425
| country          = Germany
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[States of Germany|State]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Baden-Württemberg]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Districts of Germany|District]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Konstanz (district)|Konstanz]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   = [[Municipalities of Germany|Municipality]]
| country_admin_divisions_2         = [[Konstanz]] 
| country_admin_divisions_title_3   = [[Wards of Germany|Ward]]
| country_admin_divisions_3         = Litzelstetten 
| country_capital                   = 
| country_largest_city              = 
| country_largest_city_population   = 
| country_leader_title              = 
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| country_1                         = 
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| country_1_admin_divisions_title_2 = 
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| country_1_largest_city            = 
| country_1_largest_city_population = 
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| country_2                         = 
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| population       = 185
| population_as_of = 2008
| density_km2      = 413.3
| ethnic_groups    = 
| website          =[https://www.mainau.de/de/opening-hours-prices.html www.mainau.de]
| additional_info  =Private property owned by Lennart Bernadotte-Stiftung
}}
[[File:InselMainau2010Video.ogg|thumb|Mainau (2010)]]
[[File:Mainau13.jpg|thumb|The palace gardens at Mainau were mainly created by [[Prince Lennart, Duke of Småland|Lennart Bernadotte]]]]

'''Mainau''' {{IPA|de|ˈmaɪnaʊ||De-Mainau.ogg}}also referred to as Mav(e)no(w), Maienowe (in 1242), Maienow (in 1357), Maienau, Mainowe (in 1394) and Mainaw (in 1580) is an island in Lake Constance (on the Southern shore of the Überlinger See near the city of Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany). It is maintained as a garden island and a model of excellent environmental practices.[1] Administratively, the island has been a part of Konstanz since December 1, 1971, when the municipality of Litzelstetten, of which Mainau was part, was incorporated into Konstanz. Mainau is still part of Litzelstetten, now one of 15 wards (administrative subdivisions) of Konstanz'''.'''

The island belongs to the Lennart Bernadotte-Stiftung (eng. The Lennart Bernadotte Foundation),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mainau.de/lennart-bernadotte-stiftung.html|title=Lennart-Bernadotte-Stiftung|access-date=2015-12-15|archive-date=2017-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104101048/http://www.mainau.de/lennart-bernadotte-stiftung.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> an entity created by Prince [[Lennart Bernadotte]], [[Count of Wisborg]], originally a [[Prince]] of [[Sweden]] and [[Duke of Småland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mainau.de/chronik.html|title=Chronik - Insel Mainau|access-date=2015-12-15|archive-date=2017-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108165210/http://www.mainau.de/chronik.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is one of the main tourist attractions of Lake Constance. Beside flowers there is a park landscape with views on the lake. There is also a greenhouse with a tropical climate and thousands of butterflies.

Mainau Bay is the location of [[University of Konstanz|their university's]] sailing club.

==Geography==
===Position===
The island averages out at a height between {{convert|395|m}} (roughly equals the lake’s average medium water-level) and {{convert|425|m|sp=us}} above sea level. Its highest peak is located at the Großherzog-Friedrich Terrace (historic water reservoir). Mainau Island is {{convert|610|m}} long from North to South and a {{convert|1050|m|sp=us}} wide from West to East. The island’s circumference is about {{convert|3|km|sp=us|spell=in}}. The shortest distance between the downwelling [[molasse]] slice and the lake’s shore is about {{convert|130|m|sp=us}}.

===Population===
Few people inhabit Mainau Island. Due to its small number of inhabitants, it is considered a hamlet. Meyer’s Lexikon’s issue of 1888 declared that 28 people lived on Mainau Island. During the census of 1961, a population of 123 was verified.
Count Björn Bernadotte is living in the castle on Mainau Island.

===Flora and fauna===

Due to subtropical influences, Mainau features an almost year round warm climate, that allows the cultivation of exotic trees like [[banana trees]] or many kinds of [[palm trees]].

Besides this subtropical vegetation, Mainau is also home to many topical Central European trees like the [[lind]]. 

The cultivation of the gardens has a long history in Mainau and attract thousands of tourists from all over the world each year.

== Parks and gardens ==
[[File:Karte Insel Mainau.png|thumb|right|Island map]]
Mainau Island is a "flowering island" notable for its parks and gardens. [[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden]], created the island's arboretum, which now contains 500 species of deciduous and [[coniferous]] trees, many exotic and valuable, including fine specimens of ''[[Sequoiadendron giganteum]]'' (1864) and ''[[Metasequoia glyptostroboides]]'' (1952). The island also contains about 200 rhododendron and azalea varieties.

Due to the advantageous climate at the lake, palm trees and other Mediterranean  plants can grow on the drop-shaped island. Because of its rich subtropical and partly even tropical vegetation, Mainau Island is also called "flowering island in the Lake Constance". Count [[Lennart Bernadotte]], who died in 2004, liked to call his island "Blumenschiff" (engl. flower ship). He also described the famous destination as follows: "She is a coquettish little Lady, Mainau Island, who constantly demands much attention, even more love and ceaselessly new clothes." - Lennart Bernadotte. By "new clothes", he probably meant the blossoms, plants and flower-beds which are constantly renewed by the gardeners.

Apart from the historic buildings, the centerpiece of Mainau Island  is the Arboretum with its 500 different types of rare and valuable broad-leaved trees and conifers, which was created in 1856 by grand duke Friedrich I. Among those is one of Germany's "oldest" dawn redwood trees (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). The tree, which originated from China, was planted on the island in 1952, when it was just {{convert|70|cm|sp=us}} tall. Particularly mighty are some exemplars of the giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Their seeds came from California in 1853 and were planted on the island in 1864, which makes them one of the oldest of their kind in Europe. You can find the above-mentioned giant redwoods as well as Cedars, Dawn Redwoods and Tulip Poplars on the island. The Arboretum expands towards the north-west of the island.
 
Spring marks the beginning of the "Blumenjahr" (eng. Flower Year) with an exhibition of orchids. From March to May you can see several types of flowers in full bloom, like Tulips, Daffodils, Primroses, Forget-Me-Nots and Hyacinths. To show the full beauty of all these flowers the so-called „Frühlingsallee“ (eng. Spring Avenue) was opened, which is a path across the island surrounded by beds of these plants. From May to June over 200 kinds of Rhododendrons and Azaleas are in full bloom. To the west of the "Comturey-Keller" you can find an Italian rose garden commissioned by Friedrich I. This rose garden is strictly geometric and consists of pergolas, sculptures and fountains. In general, over 1200 kinds of roses can be found on the island.

„Frühlingsallee“ leads to „Mediterran-Terrassen“ (eng. Mediterranean Terrace) where exotic plants such as palm families, agaves, cacti and bougainvillea are presented in pails during summer. Lake Constance and its surroundings as well as the Alps can be seen in a panoramic view from here. In July the blossoms of brugmansia and hibiscus are blooming on Mainau Island and in August the blossoms of passion flowers bloom.

On the southern end you can find “Südgarten” (eng. South Garden) where in autumn fields of dahlia with approximately 20,000 dahlia bushes and 250 varieties gleam from September until October. Spring and summer flowers such as different kinds of fuchsia are growing on the affiliated shore garden to the eastern side of “Südgarten”.

The “Bodenseerelief” (eng. Relief of Lake Constance) is a very popular photo motive. It is a relief with the picture of a flower which is changed by season. A small harbor with a landing place is situated to the northern side of Mainau Island. Excursion boats lay in here and another entrance to “Frühlingsallee” can be found here.

== History ==
Until the Napoleonic [[German mediatisation|mediatisation]]s and [[secularisation]]s of small German fiefs this island belonged to the Order of [[Teutonic Knights]]. It was later sold into private ownership. In 1853 Grand Duke [[Frederick I of Baden]] purchased the island as his personal property and used the palace built by the Teutonic Knights as summer palace. At the end of [[World War I]] Baden became a republic with the [[abdication]] of Grand Duke [[Frederick II of Baden|Frederick II]], son of Frederick I. The former Grand Duke retained his private property including Mainau. When he died childless in 1928 the island passed to his sister [[Victoria of Baden]], wife of King [[Gustaf V of Sweden]]. Upon her death two years later she bequeathed the island to her second son [[Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland]] and his descendants. In 1932 Prince Wilhem gave Mainau to his only child [[Lennart Bernadotte]] who owned it until 1974 when he transferred the island to a [[Foundation (non-profit)|foundation]]. Count Bernadotte formed ''Enterprise Mainau GmbH'' in 1991 as a private enterprise to manage the island for the benefit of the ''Lennart Bernadotte-Stiftung''. The Count remained active in managing Mainau until his death in 2004 but had appointed his second wife [[Sonja Bernadotte|Sonja]] co-manager in 2001. Widowed, she and their children ran both the foundation and the management company until 2007. Since January 2007 Bettina Bernadotte, the eldest daughter of Lennart and Sonja, directs the Mainau GmbH as current manager, and since 2011 her brother Björn Bernadotte has joined her.<ref>{{cite web |title=Insel Mainau: Mainau GmbH |access-date=15 December 2015 |url=http://www.mainau.de/mainau-gmbh.html |language=de |archive-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104101056/http://www.mainau.de/mainau-gmbh.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Pre- and early history===
In 1862, signs of an earlier population were discovered along the south banks of Mainau and soon exploited by domain administrator Walter: among the items were wedges, a potsherd, flint splinters, an axe and a muller. The pile dwelling settlement made up of six houses was uncovered in the 1930s and dated back to the Neolithic Age (3,000 b.c.). Lake-dwelling settlements of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age were located along the northern shore and the southwestern island along the shallow water zone.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Frühlingsallee Tulpenblüte 2010 (1).jpg
File:Mainau Italienische Wassertreppe.jpg
File:Mainau1.jpg
File:Mainau.jpg
File:Mainau5.jpg
File:Mainau6.jpg
File:Mainau4.jpg
File:Mainau10.jpg
File:Mainau-4.jpg
File:Mainau9.jpg
File:BadenWurttemberg Mainau1 tango7174.jpg
File:Mainau11.jpg
File:Mainau12.jpg
File:Mainau13.jpg
File:Mainau14.jpg
File:Mainau15.jpg
File:Mainau16.jpg
File:Mainau Palace 04.jpg | The palace in spring 2008
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
{{wikivoyage|Mainau}}
*[http://www.mainau.de/ Mainau Island (official website)]
*[http://english.konstanz-magazin.de/Mainau.php Information and pictures about Mainau]
*[http://english.konstanz-magazin.de/magazine/mainau.php Mainau: An article and pictures]

{{Islands in Lake Constance}}
{{Lake Constance}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gardens in Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Lake islands of Germany]]
[[Category:Islands of Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Landscape design history]]
[[Category:Islands of Lake Constance in Germany]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]